Window-clearing apparatus



Aug.. 21, 1923. 1,465,292

. A. WESSIG WINDOW CLEARING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 24, 192C s sheets-sheet 1 Aug. 2l, 1923.

A. WESSIG wINDow CLEARING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 24, 1920 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Aug. 21, 19723. 1,216.5,292

A. WESSIG l y WINDOW CLEARING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 24, 1920 3 Sheets-Sheot 5 Patented Aeg. 21, 1923.

UNITED STATES l 1,465,292 PATENT oEElcE.

AUGUST WESSIGQOF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

WINDOW-CLEARING APPARATUS.

Application nled December 24, 1920. Serial No. 482,835.'

. naturalization as such, residing at (/hicago,

in the county of Cook and State of Illinois,

have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Window-Clearing Apparatus,4

of which the following is a specificatlon.

This' invention relates generally to heat distribution, and pertains particularly to improvements in ap aratus `for applying heat to windows and t e like for the pur ose of preventing their becoming obscure by the collection of water or frost thereon from ship as to impinge jets of heated air thereon for the purpose specified.v

A corollary purpose of the invention is the provision of an apparatus of this type which 1s self-contained, in the respect that the air heating and circulating means are housed and mounted together in such fashion that their cooperative -relationship maintained, and their installation or change of position may be made without re uiring changes in the structure with whic they are associated.

A further` object of the invention is the provision of an apparatus of the sort specied which is automatic in its operation, in that it requires no supervision durin its operation, whereby it is particularly apted for use in the protection of show wmdows during the night time.

A further ob'ect is the provision of an apparatus whic is ireproof, which is not subject to over-heating, and which is highly eilicient in the utilization at Ithe desired points of the heat generated.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an apparatus of theisort describedwhich will generate and distribute the desired heat rapidly and constantly, and without vitiation of the'air of the compartment in which it is operated, and which thereby is particularly adapted for use in protection of show windows in whichplants may be displayed;

is always A more specific object of the invention is the provision of a structure comprising the combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter claimed. l

Other and further objects of the inventlon will be pointed out hereinafter, indicated in the appended claims, or will be vobvious upon aconsideration of the illustrative embodiments herein disclosed, the .same be.

ing here presented for their illustrative value, and not with the purpose of limiting the invention to the particular structures shown.-

In.the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary elevation of a trolley car vestibule showing a manner in which my invention may be installed for use therein; Y

Fig.` 21is"a detail in the nature of a section such as would be taken substantially on line 2--2 of Fig. 1;

Fig.'3 is another detail section` such as might be taken on line 3-.3 of Fig. 1;

Fi 4 is a longitudinal section through one orm of generating unit constituting a part o f my invention;

Fig. 5 is a rear end elevation of the same;

Fig. 6 is an interior elevation of the rear cover plate;

Fig. 'l is a diagram illustrating the energizingvcircuits;

Fig. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view of another form of generatingelement;

Fig. 9 is a cross section of thel aircompressor of the same, taken substantially on ine 9--9 of. F ig. 8; and

Fig. 10 is a diagram illustrating the energizing circuits of the apparatus of Fig. 8.

Referring to the drawings in detail by means of the reference numerals a plied, let it be understood that lthe numera 1 designates generally a wall. portion of a compartment forming a mounting for the window 2, while the numeral 4 designates generally the generating element and the numeral 5 the distributing element of my a paratus installed in association' with t e window. Installation is here shown on the interior of the compartment, but it Ais obvious that it may be installed. either inside or outside as conditions may determine.

The generating element 1n the form illustrated in Figs. 1 to 7 inclusive includes n casing member 6 lwhich may lbe formed conveniently in cylindrical shapeofa sec` tion of metal pipev supporting at its forward los 'end a funnel-like reducing cap 7 fitted for connection withfthe distributing element 5 by a union 8. The forward portlon of the casing 6, together with the cap 7, are lined Awith a suitable heat insulating material 9,

aifords means whereby the collar may be rotated within the casing. The collar and casing are provided with circumferentially spaced apertures 15 adaptedto be moved into and out of register by rotation of the former, whereby the effective area of said apertures for the admission of air iIto the casing may be varied. The collar supports at its forward portion a spider 16 forming amounting for the base 17 of a heating elen ment, which may be constituted of an insulating spindle 18 and exposed resistance coils 19. Within the collar is mounted a motor 20 carrying a fan 21 arranged to'in duce by its operation a. proper air compression` within the forward ortion of the casing to induce a constant ow of air through the same and out through the distributin element 5, Athe air being admitted behind the fan through the apertures 15.l Suitable connection wire 22 leads from the heating element to a switch 24- supported on the inside of the ca 11, and another connection wire 25 leads om the motor to a switch 26, from which switches the inlet wires 27 are led' out through an insulation boss 28 to a connection 29 whereby they may be connected in a supply circuit. The/switches 2st and 26-Vare operable from the exterior of the cas= ing to control energization of the motor and the heatingelement. Fig. 7 lllustrates diagrammatically the preferred arrangement of the connections, wherein S designates the energizing source, and from which it will t be observed that the energization of the heating element and the motor may be controlled independently.

v The distributing element .5 is in the nature of a conduit or pipe which may be disposed in proper association with the'win'- dow so that itsdischarge apertures 5* ma be arranged to im inge jets of air upon the windowin such ashion as to cause it to travel '\th ereacross. rlhe heating coil and motor belng energized, the operation of the fan will move air through the casing about the heating element so that the air is heated thereby, and due to the heat expansion and the continued 'effect of the fan a, compression is built up in the casing which finds re lief by movement of the air through the distributing element 5, thereby producing forcible jets from' the discharge apertures. These will be effective, when in proper amount, to prevent the collection of moisture from condensation upon the window, or prevent the formation of frost thereon, and the heat thus distributed will also protect contents of the window, in the event it is used for display.

It will be observed that the cross sectional area of the heating chamber is much greater than that of the discharge orifice, which relationship is of importance in that the air is retained an appreciable time about the heating element so that its temperature may be raised to a much greater degree than if the rate of discharge were substantially equal to the rate of supply. This arrangement also contributes to the production of the necessary pressure to sustain a continued forcible ejection of air from the discharge apertures, whereby a continuous and Well defined current of heated air is maintained alongthe surface of the window.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 8, 9 and 10, the forward portion of the casing is closed by a partition 30 to provide a tight chamber in which the heating element is used. An outlet from this chamber is afforded by a connection 31 leading to the distributing element 5`and an inlet is afforded by means of the connection 32 leading from the air compressor 34 which is mounted on the motor frame and which is operated by the motor. A form of com ressor is illustrated in Fig. 9, its intake iiom the exterior of the casing being illustrated at 35. In this form automatic means is rovided for controlling the energization o the heating element and offthe motor. That utilized for controlling the heating element may'consist of a thermostatic switch 36 arranged within the compression compartment and adapted to open and close the electrical' connection to the heating element. The arrangement is such that when the temperature within the compression compartment drops below a lpredetermined minimum the switch will be closed and the heating element energized, while, when it reaches a predetermined maximum the circuit will be opened." The means for automatically controlling the energization of the motor may finclude a pressure responsive element such as the diaphragm 37 which is subject to the influence of the air pressure within the compression chamber, and which controls a switch 38 adapted to ppen and close the supply connection to the motor. When the compresion within the chamber drops below `the desired minimum, the circuit will be `closed and theY motor energized Ato build up the compression, while, when it reaches a.

predetermined maximum, the switch will be proper compression and at proper temperature to insure the desired operation ot the apparatus. It is obvious that the disposal of the distributing element 5 may be that which is most eiicient in Securing the desired distribution of the airl upon the window.

An apparatus constructed in the fashion above described is of particular advantage from the circumstance that it is entirely seltcontained and its installation'involves simply the assembly of the partsvin proper relationship to the Window. Moreover it may be moved about as a unit and disposed Wherever its iniuence may be desired. Itmay be built up entirely of elements now-sold commercially and obtainable at low cost, and its assembly is simple. It is absolutely safe, in that all operating parts are effectively housed, and external parts are protected from over-heating, thus obviating necessity for supervision of its operation.

I claim; Y

' l. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of acasing affording a heating compartment and a motor compartment, a heating element in the former and an air compressing device in the latter, means operable by thermic and pressure conn ditions in the heating compartment for controlling energization of the heating element and compressing device, and a conduit for conducting air from the heating'compart-' ment.

2.v In apparatus of" the class described, in

combination a casing having a restricted discharge orifice', a collar memberinsertable into said casing, a vheating elementsupported at the inner end of said collar, air propelling means mounted in the collar member in posi'- tion to impel air against the heatingelement, and means for controlling energization of the heating element -and propelling means.

3. In apparatus of the class described, in i combination, a casing, a collar member mounted therein, a heating element supported on the innerV portion of the collar member, said collar member affording an air inlet, air propelling means supported on the collar member between said inlet and the heating element, and means for controlling energization of the propelling means and heating element.

4. In apparatus of the class described, in

combination, a casing affording a chamber With a restricted discharge opening, a heating element mounted in said chamber, air propelling means mounted in said casing to impel air on to the heating velement and compress'it in said chamber, and means for controlling energization of the heating element and air propelling means.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses;

AUGUST WESSIG. Witnesses:

FRANCES' K. GILLESPIE, C. S. BUTLER. 

